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Christian Gospel Mission (JMS) leader Jung Myung-seok. / Captured from Netflix's "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal"

Prosecutors have sought a 27-year prison sentence for Jung Myung-seok (81), leader of the Christian Gospel Mission (widely known as JMS), who was put on trial on charges of sexually assaulting female followers.

During the final hearing on charges including quasi-rape, held on the 7th before the 11th Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court (Presiding Judge Park Woo-geun), the prosecution requested the court to sentence Jung to 27 years in prison. Prosecutors also asked the court to order a 10-year employment restriction at institutions for children, adolescents, and the disabled, 20 years of wearing an electronic tracking device, and 5 years of probation.

"As the leader of a religious organization, Jung committed the crimes by exploiting the group's internal apparatus to religiously brainwash victims and render them criminally vulnerable," the prosecution said, adding, "Please consider that he committed these crimes repeatedly during a period of recidivism for identical offenses, and that he continues to deny the wrongdoing without showing remorse."

Earlier, the prosecution sought a 7-year prison sentence for JMS's second-in-command, Kim Ji-sun, who was indicted on charges including aiding and abetting Jung's offenses, while requesting sentences ranging from 1 year to 3 years and 6 months for four other accomplices.

The sentencing hearing for Jung is scheduled to take place on the 1st of next month.

Jung faces charges of molesting or sexually assaulting 16 victims after rendering them incapable of resistance. Jung is currently serving a 17-year prison term finalized in January of last year for sexually assaulting and molesting female followers from Hong Kong, Australia, and South Korea between February 2018 and September 2019.

                                                                                                          Son Seung-hyun